Annapolis is most often thought of as a nautical town with the presence of the U.S. Naval Academy. This time of year it is cold and blustery with wind-driven clouds, occasional rain, dying leaves, and migrating geese overhead. But right now it is the scene of U.S.-hosted Mideast Peace talks. Representatives of 40 countries have met together to see what happens. I don’t think they have met to actually make peace in the region. The conflicts there are too historic and too intractable for resolution by the parties assembled in Maryland. And because of that, the political expectations and press coverage are equally low.
That said, the mere fact that such a disparate group has assembled at one location is historic in and of itself. It should be noted that they are here because of America. We invited them and they came. Not the UN; not the EU; not the Russians. Only America maintains relations with all; even the radicals. And only we have enough leverage to make them come. It is also an indication that the parties themselves are concerned about the situation in the region and concerned that nothing be altered without their knowledge and participation.
They are concerned not just about Arab-Israeli relations but Shi’a-Sunni conflicts, oil, terrorism, disintegration of polities, the dollar, Iraq, Lebanon, nuclear ambitions, Darfur, Somalia, Gaza, and a host of other very real issues. Annapolis provides a wonderful opportunity for many of these issues to be discussed on the margins. In fact the whole Conference may be just a discussion on the margins by people who don’t normally get to talk with one another.
The MidEast is a place where perceptions are often more important that reality. That is why so many of the parties put out lists of pre-conditions to their attendance. They wanted to ensure the continuation of some of the perceptions and deceptions that make resolution of conflicts so difficult in the region. My father used to tell me that the worst lie you ever tell is the one you tell yourself. Many of the participants in this conference have not only done that but they have told themselves these “lies” so long they have started to believe them. Chief among these self-deceptions is that Arabs and Israelis can not resolve their conflicts except by violence. Rationalization of their own faults and false perceptions of other actors have impacted on the ability of all the players to make reality-based decisions.
The reality of Annapolis is different than that experienced by most of the participants back at their homes. The damp leaves and green lawns are not their normal environment. There will be lively discussions about what seafood is halal or kosher. There will be frantic purchases of sweaters and rain jackets as they try to adjust to a new physical reality. Hopefully, Annapolis will help the players to realize that there is a bigger world and reality beyond the MidEast. And peace and cooperation with that broader world is possible and desirable.
